The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-22
SLEW SEVEN DESPERADOS.
Outmatched by Princeton Graduates
Pluck and Nerve.
From the Ne,c York World.


Rdgely of Texarkana had, between March
| and April 8, killed seven men, all members
of a family named Murphy. The simple
statement of this fact might suggest that
Ridgely was a desperado eager to imbrue
his hands in blood. On the contrary, he is
gentleman of culture and education,
whose life has won him the respect
and esteem of all who know him, who is too
brave to seek a quarrel when it can be
avoided, and who holds life too sacred to
wantonly shed blood. The lives he was COM
PEELED to take We're those of men who sought
! to kill him, and only his dauntless courage
and almost unequaled GOODNESS prevented
them from succeeding. The grudge that
urged the Murphys to kill Mr.. Ridgely
arose from the fact that his chivalric nature
and love of fair play prevented him from
standing idly by and seeing helpless
! stranger browbeaten and robbed by pair
| of ruffians.
Walter Ridgely owns a large ranch adj
| joining the Indian Territory. An estimate
of the value of his possessions places it i'll
the neighborhood of 100000. The greater
portion Of this property was inherited from
his father, Col. John Fl. Ridgely, a native
| of New Jersey, who settled i'll Texas years
| ago, and served as an officer in the Confed-
crate army. Walter was born in Texas
thirty-fou years ago He was sent to
Princeton College and graduated there in
1873. After leaving college he returned to
Texas, but after short stay on his fathers
ranch he went West, and in 1875 was serv-
ing as a scout under Gen. Custer. He re-
manned in the wild Western country until
| 1882, when his father died and he returned
to Texas, where he has since lived
The house in which he lives is a spacious
mansion, standing in the centre of rich
lawn frightened by parterres of flowers.
Within it is handsomely furnished and
books and pictures attest the cultivated
tastes of its owner.
On March last Mr.. Ridgely went to
Ropemeyer's store, about eight miles from
his ranch and plantation. He was in con-
versation there with some of the neighbor-
ing ranch-owners when two brothers, Joe
and Robert Murphy, entered, followed by a
stranger. From the conversation that took
place between the three, those present
learned that ON the preceding day the
stranger, who was a travelling salesman,
had crossed the river to the Indian Nation
ON the ferry kept by the Murphys paying
SOC. for his ferriage. On his return that
morning the Murphys again ferried him
over, but demanded S. as payment. This
the stranger refused to pay, and they had
taken his sample case from him.
When Mr. Ridgely heard what had taken
place he told the Murphys that they should
not try to impose on a stranger in such a
manner. The brothers turned on him with
abusive epithets and finally both sprang at
him. Although the two brothers were stall
wart men and noted as desperadoes, they
had met a man whom their united attack
did not terrify. Mr. Ridgely is 5 feet II
inches in height, with well-built frame,
made strong and active by the outdoor life
H., - LII -. 4. -. L
determined countenance his aSSailants might
have read warning had they not relied
upon the odds they presented against him.
Ridgely did not retreat when attacked
but, promptly striking out sent
one of the men to the floor with q well-di-
rected blow. The other at once drew his
pistol; but before he had time to aim it
Ridgely had drawn his own and sent bull
let through his heart The other had mean
while regained his feet and drawn his own
revolver. Quick as a flash Ridgely turned
upon him and second bullet gave him a
mortal wound from which he died the fol-
lowing day. The testimony of all who had
witnessed the tragedy showed that Ridge
ly's act had been necessary to preserve his
own life, and that the two brothers owed
their fate to themselves.
John Murphy, brother of the two men
killed, and Thomas, their uncle fastened to
their relatives, and were loud in their threats
that they would avenge them by staying
Ridgely. The latter heard of these threats
and sought to avoid further bloodshed by
remaining on his ranch except when actual
ly obliged to leave it on business. On
March % he was thus obliged to so to
the farm of a neighbor two miles dis
tant. 1t was dark when he mounted his
horse to return. When but little more
bu ha hnpnatyorI hoI
traverSed two pistol shots suddenly rang
out from behind trees bordering the road
The horse fell to the ground dead, and with
him fell its rider. John and Thomas Muir
ply emerged from behind the trees that
had concealed them, confident they had
done their work we'll They had advanced
to within a few PAGES of the PROSTATE man
when he suddenly sprang TO his feet, revol-
yer in each hand, and before either of the
amazed assassins had time to recover his
presence of mind each had fallen with
mortal wound 80.
But even yet Ridgely,s life was not safe.
There still remained two more brothers of
the Murphy family and another uncle. The
three, who were in the Indian Territory, at
once left for Texarkana, vowing that they
would kill Ridgely. The ranchman's friends
urged him to leave the place for a time, but
he refused to do so. He would remain upon
his ranch, he said. He would take every
precaution to avoid the Murphys He was
as anxious as man could be to Shun further
bloodshed, but he would not fly from them.
For some days no attack was made upon
the man whose friends, knowing the
characters of his enemies. be-
lieved to be doomed This quietude.
however, proved but the prelude TO a stll
more sanguinary tragedy. At 2 O'Clock on
the morning of April San uproar among the
horses and cattle in the stables and barn
aroused Ridgely from sleep. Hastily pat-
ting on some clothes he hurried out to see
what was the matter. AS he left the house
he told some of his men who slept III the
house 10 follow him While he was walk
ing towards the barn a man sprang from
behind wagon with drawn revolver and
fired upon him. The bullet passed through
Ridgelyis hat, but did not even craze
his skin. Though unhurt he dropped to his
knees ana, drawing one of the two revolvers
he always carried, fired almost at haphazard
in the darkness. A yell and an oath told
that the bullet had found a mark. Then
Ridgely sprang TO his feet and ran toward
the wagon. Before he had reached it two
more figures sprang up and ran toward him.
firing rs they ran. One Of their bullets
struck Rigely in the left arm and disabled
il. With his right lmnd though, he fred,
and one OF his assailants fell After he had
fallen, though. he retained sufficient
strength To raise himself on his left side and
fire at Ridgely, striking him in the breast
The brave ranchman was stricken 20 the
ground, but almost us soon as he had touch
ed it he turned toward the third man who